Spelling variations of this family name include: Voorst, Voorstad, Voorsteegh, Voort, Vorst, Vorstell, Vorstern, Vorstman and many more.

First found in Holland, where the name became noted for its many branches in the region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied by the princes of the region.

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Abraham Vandervoort, who arrived in New York, NY in 1640; Thomas Vorst, who arrived in New Netherland in 1660; Willem Voorst, who came to New Netherland in 1663.

THE NETHERLANDS

The early history of the Netherlands was fraught with conflict. In the 1st century, the original inhabitants of this area, who were primarily Celts and Frisians, came under the control of the Roman Empire. By the 5th century, the Franks had forced the Romans to withdraw, and they dominated this region until the end of the 8th century. In the 11th century, the area that is now the Netherlands, came under the power of the Holy Roman Empire. It was divided up into fiefs, and parceled out to various dukes. In 1477, these fiefs came into the possession of the Hapsburgs.